Global Policy Forum

By Roy Eccleston

The Bush administration is moving to internationalise its Iraq operation, pushing yesterday for the UN to return to the war-torn nation and opening the door for NATO to take control of security. Stung by the mounting death toll and mindful of a US presidential election in 12 months, George W. Bush has embarked on a major policy shift, beginning with the weekend agreement to transfer power to an interim Iraqi government by June 30, 2004. Mr Bush's approval rating has dropped four points in less than two weeks to 50 per cent, the lowest level of his presidency, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll published last night.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday he had called UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to urge a reinvigorated UN role in Iraq. The UN withdrew its staff following the August 19 bombing of its Baghdad headquarters that killed 22 people. "It's time now, with this new plan, for the UN to determine whether or not circumstances will permit it to play a more active role inside the country," Mr Powell said, flagging the possibility the US would seek a new UN resolution on Iraq. But Mr Annan -- who also was lobbied by the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council -- gave no commitment to return soon, citing security concerns. "The moment we put ourselves in fortresses, we are not going to be as effective and as efficient, and it raises a question: is it even worth being on the ground?" he said.

The UN yesterday suspended operations in southern and eastern Afghanistan following the killing of French UN worker Bettina Goislard. In Iraq, two more US soldiers were killed on Monday, taking the death toll to 422 since the war started on March 20. The US military announced that 99 "anti-coalition suspects" had been arrested during operations against insurgents. In a tactic reminiscent of Israeli crackdowns in the West Bank and Gaza, the military has begun destroying the homes of suspected guerilla fighters in Iraq's Sunni Triangle, evacuating women and children, then levelling their houses with heavy weaponry. In another development, CNN reported that the US Army had ordered a review of protective measures on all 620 helicopters deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Five helicopters have crashed in Iraq since October 25, killing 39 troops.

Mr Powell also told reporters the US-led military operation could be turned over to NATO, the European-US military alliance. "I wouldn't rule out anything at this point," he said ahead of a visit this week to NATO headquarters in Brussels. "I know NATO has discussed this, and I've had discussions with NATO." In London, The Independent newspaper reported that European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana believed Washington was prepared to bring its troops under international control.

Mr Annan's security fears were echoed at the White House during a meeting between Mr Bush and the leaders of Iraqi women's groups. "We all like Iraq, we all like America, and we don't want them (the troops) to leave us," said Songul Chapouk, a Turkman and founder of the Iraqi Women's Organisation in Kirkuk. The US President responded: "I assured these five women that America wasn't leaving." Under Mr Bush's new plan, special councils in Iraq's 18 provinces will be formed to select a transitional government to run Iraq from June 30 next year until the end of 2005, when elections will be held.

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